OF FRUIT TREES. 73 



fruit trees with satisfactory success. He is, there- 

 fore, of opinion, that Forsyth's remedy affords a radi- 

 cal cure for diseases, defects, and injuries in all kinds 

 of fruit trees, and that in pruning, especially where 

 large amputations are made, the composition ought 

 always to be applied, as it prevents the exuding of 

 the vegetable juices through the wounded parts, 

 aids and precipitates the healing of the wounds, 

 promotes the vigour and health of the trees, and 

 adds to the size and flavour of the fruit. 



The composition of Mr. Forsyth does not, at this 

 day, sustain such high reputation as formerly. It 

 is not supposed to possess great efficacy as a medica- 

 ment when applied to diseased trees ; and for the 

 purpose of defence against wet and heat, it is not 

 perhaps preferable to an ointment composed of ro- 

 sin, beeswax, and turpentine. It is probable, that 

 a composition consisting of clay, tempered with 

 horse dung and urine, would be found of equal utili- 

 ty. We are not unacquainted with instances of 

 surgeons acquiring great celebrity by the applica- 

 tion of certain medicaments to old ulcers, when in 

 verity the cure was effected by the efforts of na- 



ture. 



MEANS OF PRESERVING THE HEALTH AND VIGOUR OF 

 FRUIT TREES. 



To promote the health and vigour of fruit trees, 

 Mr. Forsyth recommends the following method, and 

 it has been practised in our country with the most 

 decided advantage. Take any quantity of urine and 

 soap suds, and add fresh cow dung, and a little slack- 

 ed lime, sufficient to bring it to the consistence of 

 very thick white-wash or paint. After having 

 removed all cankery parts, and scraped off the 

 rough bark or moss from the trees, this mixture is 

 to be applied to the stems and branches with a 

 brush, in the same manner as the ceiling or walls of 

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